the Christian Church Matth. 18.17 4. We are referred in some cases to those institutions God sends us to the Law for light directs us to do as was appointed in the Old Testament So about Womens not speaking in the Church 1 Cor. 14.34 So about the maintenance of Ministers Gal. 6.6 1 Cor. 9.13,14 3. New Testament institutions there were some institutions appointed by Christ under the Gospel these are few principally what Officers shall be in the Church The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and the first day Sabbath 1. We must distinguish between Temporal and Perpetual institutions Some institutions were only for a time as the Office of the Apostles So the anointing of the sick with Oyl Jam. 5.14 There are others that are to continue to the end of the World So is Baptism Matth. 20. The Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.26 These Ordinances will not be removed as Jewish Ceremonies Heb. 13.28 2. Distinguish between approved practises and institutions there were many practises and institutions there were many practises in the primitive times that were approved yet not binding to us The Church at Jerusalem had seven Deacons Acts 6.5 They did Baptize in private Houses Act. 10.33 Christ sent out his Disciples two and two Luk. 10.1 This doth not shew that these things were institutions that is meet to be done in one case that is not meet to be done in another One or two Examples shew the Lawfulness of a practise but do not make it a binding Rule CHAP. II. The Nature of Instituted Churches Explained THE Word Church is used Equivocally there are three senses especially wherein it is used in the Scripture First It is taken for those that are Spiritually United unto Christ the mistical Body of Christ Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a Glorious Church Secondly For that part of the World that doth profess the true faith for them that are visible Christians 1 Cor. 15.9 I persecuted the Church of God Thirdly It is taken for an Instituted Church this Church is invested by Christ with Spiritual Power and is thus defined A Church is a Society of Saints joyned togâ—ther according to the appointment of Christ for the constant carrying on of his publick Worship A Church is a Society a single Person is not a Church a Church is a Collection or Congregative Body consisting of many Members 1 Cor. 12.27 Ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particulars hence it is compared to a flock and other Câ—…ective Bodies It is a Society of Saints The Members of a Church are Saints by calling 1 Cor. 11.12 To the Church of God which is at Corinth to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints 1 Cor. 14.33 In all the Churches of the Saints the Church of the Jews was a Society of Saints Psal 79.12,11 Psal 1. None are to be Members of Instituted Churches but those that are Members of the Catholick Church Particular Churches are but parts and branches of the Catholick Church they are the Churches of God the Body of Christ the Temple of God therefore must be Holy Therefore Societies of Papists are abusively called Churches A Church doth joyn together for the Publick carrying on of the Worship of God A Family joyning together for the private carrying on of the Worship of God is not a Church we read of a Church in the House of Aquila Rom. 16.5 And in the House of Nymphas Col. 4.15 Because there the publick Worship of God was attended The Church doth joyn for the carrying on of publick Worship as the Preaching of the word the Administration of Sacraments and dispensing of Censures in a publick way A Church doth joyn together for the constant carrying on of the publick Worship of God for a Church is a Body Corporate which may continue from Generation to Generation it is not any occasional Meeting together that gives being to a Church A Church is a standing Society not depending on any occasional Meeting Therefore a Congregation that meet together on a Lecture Day from several Towns to hear the Word Preached are not a Church neither have any Ecclesiastical Power Yea a synod that meet now and then occasionally though it may be called a representative Church is not a Church properly the Members thereof are chosen for a perticular occasion A Church doth joyn together according to Christs appointment Christ has given a Rule according to which they ought to joyn together and if Men joyn in Worshiping with a Church irregularly that does not make them to be Members of that Church If a man that lives in one Town where there is a Church doth joyn constantly in worshiping with another Church that doth not make him a Member of that Church Quest VVho are visible Saints Answ This Question hath been matter of great debate and an occasion of great contention in the Church we may not count those only to be Saints who after the strictest Examination give considerable evidence that they are Saints We have no such Rule the practice of the Apostles in admitting Members into the Christian Church doth not Countenance any such Opinion neither are we to make Baptized Persons and Visible Saints to be the same for Persons must be Visible Saints before they are Baptized and some that are Baptized may cease to be Visible Saints neither are they only Visible Saints that make a profession of the true Religion joyned with an Holy Conversation Some Men may behave themselves so as to deserve a sentence of Excommunication and yet be Visible Saints Visible Saintship and real Saintship may consist with a great deal of iniquity in the Conversation for a time Visible Saints are such as make a serious profession of the true Religion together with those that do descend from them till rejected of God 1. Such as do make a serious profession of the true Religion are Visible Saints we find the Apostles did really accept of such not waiting to see what their Conversation would be Act. 16,14,15 So did John Luk. 7.29,30 Such are to be accepted without delay 2. Their Infant Seed are likewise Visible Saints God gives that Testimony for them 1 Cor. 7.14 3. Such also as descend from them from Generation to Generation untill they are rejected by God are Visible Saints for they that are Visible Saints don't cease to be so till God hath cast them off So it was with the Posterity of Abraham if they should carry it wickedly or if they should fall into Heresy yet they are Visible Saints till God hath rejected them and there are two ways whereby God may shew his rejection of them One is when they do depart from the Churches of God to Heathen or Antichristian Societies the other is when the People that they belong unto and they with them are unchurched by God CHAP. III. Of the Nature of a Congregational Church AS a Civil Society doth consist of one Town or more Towns so an instituted Church
some things in those Psalms are not so suteable to our present Case so it is in what we read yet those Psalms are very suteable for us to meditate upon and contain in them much Instruction and Incouragement and because they were indicted by the Spirit of God are more proper to affect our hearts and excite the workings of Grace then such as are of a private Composure A third part of Worship is the Preaching and Teaching of the Word the Preaching of the Word is to be attended to the End of the World Matth. 28.19.20 It is the Duty of Ministers to Preach the Word 2 Tim. 4.2 A Minister is called a Preacher Rom. 12.14 This is a special means to advance the Conversion of Sinners and Edification of Saints Altho it be the special Office and Duty of Teaching Elders and ordained Ministers of the Gospel yet Preaching being a Moral Duty it is lawful for those who are not ordained Ministers to Preach the Gospel Yea in some cases it is Lawful for such Men who are not devoted to the Ministry provided they have suteable abilities The reading of large Portions of Scripture upon the Sabbath Day which was constantly Practised by the Jewish Church is not so particularly now required by God there was great need of it in those Ages when the World had not the benefit of Preaching but there is no institution requiring any such service of us any further then the Rule of Edification calls for it Ministers are not bound to observe any particular method in their Preaching they may Preach either by expounding some Portion of Scripture or by raising a Doctrine from a particular Text and applying of it or by explaining of a Catechism or in any other profitable way Ministers have Power to Catechise their hearers not only that they may know their fitness to participate at the Lords Table but also in order to their growth in knowledge tho it may be presumed that many Persons are inquisitive and studious yet there are many others who are not to be confided in and the Minister hath Power by Virtue of his Pastoral charge to see that they Learn reason dictates this to be a most suteable method as in the Learning of Arts and Languages so in the Learning of the way of salvation the most proper and profitable ways of teaching are to be used by Ministers A fourth part of Worship is Baptism this is an ordinance appointed by Christ himself to be a perpetual Ordinance in the Christian Church It was published by John before by Virtue of an Institution but afterwards declared by Christ to be a standing ordinance in the Church It is very likely that the form afterwards used by John and his Disciples was that they did Baptize in the Name of the Lord Jesus Act. 19.5 But seeing Christ did expresly command his Apostles before his assention to Baptize in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost we have no reason to think that the first Teachers of the Gospel did use any other form and when we read that the Samaritans were Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Act. 8.18 And that Peter ordered that Cornelius and his Company should be Baptized in the Name of the Lord Act. 10.48 No more seems to be intended by it then their being Baptized according to the institution of the Lord Jesus The Persons that are sent to Administer Baptism are the same that are sent to Preach the Word Matth. 28.19,20 Tho the Apostles did sometimes decline it yet we have reason to conclude that they committed it to Inferiour Ministers After the Example of Christ who did not commit it to the People but to his Disciples John 4.2 Therefore such Preachers as are not ordained Ministers are not to Baptize Baptism may be Administred either in the Publick Assembly or in private there is no appointment that necessitates the publick performance of it there is nothing in the Nature of the ordinance that doth necessitate it and we find that the Apostles and Apostolical Men did it as there was occasion both publickly and privately Act. 8.38 and 9.18 and 16.33 There is no necessity that Persons be Members of any particular Congregation before they be Baptized Persons before they be Members of any particular Congregation may have that qualification that gives them a right to Baptism viz. Visible Saintship many that were Baptized in the first times did not belong to any particular Congregation of Christians and tho many of them did belong to particular Jewish Congregations or Synagogues yet some did not Act. 16.33 Such adult Persons as make such a profession of the Christian Faith as is Morally sincere are to be Baptized as doth appear by the Example of John Christ himself Phillip and others who were directed by the Spirit of God and none were refused that did seriously tender themselves to be Baptized Such Infants as are descended from the Covenant People of God by either Parent are to be Baptized 1 Cor. 7.14 Such Infants as do descend from Parents that are under Church consures for immoralities are not to be denied Baptism because Excommunication doth not cut Men off from the Covenant of God such Infants as are the Children of Heathens belonging to the Families of the People of God are Incorporated into the Covenant and are to be Baptized when the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your Children unclean he speaks of them as they come into the World yet it follows not but when they are taken into the Families of Christians they do become Holy such were to be Circumcised under the Law A fifth part of Worship is the Lords Supper which was instituted by Christ a little before his Death to be a standing Ordinance in the Christian Church all such Professoâ—…â—f the Christian Faith as are of blameless Conversation and have knowledge to exaâ—… themselves and discern the Lords Body are to be admitted to the Lords Supper Three things are requisite in order to admission to the Lords Supper First Visible Saintship and that is found in such Persons all professors walking blamelesly are Visible Saints the Members of the Jewish Church are often called Saints in the Scripture who did give no further evidence of their Saintship a Profession of the faith joyned with a good Conversation is a sufficient ground for Charity these are marks that we are directed in the Scripture to Judge of Mens Saintship by The Apostle did accept of such Persons for Visible Saints Men that have these Characters are not visibly wicked therefore they are Visible Saints these properties are the proper Fruits of Saintship and therefore constitute Men Visible Saints such a profession as being sincere makes a Man a real Saint being Morally sincere makes a Man a Visible Saint That whereby Godly Men do make their Saintship Visible does make Men Visible Saints viz. A profession of the truth and a good Conversation A second requisite is that they be not scandalous a
Man that is really and visibly Godly may fall into a scandal and upon that account be forbidden to participate at the Lords Table but when their Conversation is good they cannot be hindred upon that Account A third requisite is that they have knowledge to examine themselves and discern the Lords Body for the want of this Infants are denied the Lords Supper Those Adult Persons that are fit to be admitted into the Church are to be admitted to the Lords Supper All Adult Persons that are fit to be admitted into the Church ordinarily have all those qualifications requisite to the participation of the Lords Supper They make profession of the true Faith and are of good Conversation they have knowledge of the principles of Religion and so are able to examine themselves and if any of them should not understand the Nature of that ordinance they may soon be sufficiently informed Two things are evident in the practise of the Apostles one is that they readily admitted such into the Church as made a profession of the Christian Faith Act. 2. Act. 6. We never read that ever they denied Admission to any Man or Woman that made that profession the other is that all that were thus received by them were admitted to the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 10.17 Act. 2.24 They made no distinction of the Adult Members of the Church into Communicants and Non-Communicants Those that are commanded by God to participate of the Lords Supper are to be admitted to the Lords Supper but all professors that have a good Conversation and Knowledge are commanded by God to participate in the Lords Supper if Men have not these Qualifications they are not obliged immediately to participate in the Lords Supper for it would be a sin if they should But having these Qualifications they are bound provided they have opportunity Christ has laid this Law upon Professors 1 Cor. 11.24,25 The persons here commanded are not only true Believers then none can do it with a good Conscience but those that know themselves to be true Believers then the Church Authority can require none but true Believers to come the Persons therefore required to partake are such professors as carry it inoffensively and if such are bound to come the Church is bound to receive them they may not hinder any Man from doing his Duty There can be no just cause assigned why such Men should be debarred from coming to the Lords Supper they are not to be debarred for not giving the highest evidence of sincerity There never was any such Law in the Church of God that any should be debarred Church Priviledges because they did not give the highest evidence of sincerity nor for want of the Exercise of Faith it is unreasonable to believe Men to be visible Saints from their Infancy till they be forty or fifty years of Age and yet not capable of coming to the Lords Supper for want of the Exercise of Faith they are not to be denied because of the weakness of Grace they that have the least Grace need to have it Nourished and Cherished Such Adult Persons as are worthy to be admitted into the Church or being in the Church are worthy to be continued without censure are to be admitted to the Lords Supper it is utterly unreasonable to deny the Adult Members of the Church the Lords Supper and yet not lay them under censure If they are guilty of any such offence as to be denyed the Lords Supper why are they not censured If they are not worthy to be censured why are they kept from the Lords Supper There are some Scriptures that have been thought to hold forth a need of somewhat further in order to participation in the Lords Supper which if they be examined will be found to be strained beyond the Import of them Psal 6.16 David saith I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my Soul hence it is argued that Men should give an Account of the manner of their Conversion in order to their Admission but if it should be granted that David doth respect the work of Regeneration doth it follow because he was willing to talk of it that they might make a Law to bind him to do it in the Synagogue or doth it follow that David offered to do it in order to his joyning with the Jewish Church Act. 2.37 They were pricked at the heart before they were admitted into the Church but let it be considered that many others were joyned to the Christian Church of whom we read no such thing and here is no living Rule that others must declare that they are pricked at the heart before their Admission yea it is certain that these did not declare their trouble in order to their Admission into the Church but in order to their Direction yea it doth not appear that these Men were under a work of Conversion at this time they might be Godly Men before the thing that stung them was a National sin which in probability they had no hand in For the greater part of them were strangers come up to keep the Feast of Pentecost and were greatly affected with the sin which the Nation of the Jews were guilty of in Crucifying of Christ Act. 9.26,27 The Church at Jerusalem refused to admit Paul to their Communion till they were informed by Barnabas of his Conversion but it doth not appear that Paul did then desire to participate with them in the Lords Supper possibly it might be only in hearing of the Word and Prayer and the reason why they were unwilling to receive him was not any doubt whether his Conversion was sincere but whether he was a Christian As if in a Popish Country one who had been a violent Persecutor should Essay to joyn himself to a Protestant Congregation it would be no wonder if they should be affraid of him until they were informed that he was become a Protestant this is no foundation to require of all that joyn to the Church an Accout about the manner of their Conversion 1 Pet. 3.15 Men are required to be ready to give an Answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them but here by the reason of the hope that is in them we are not to understand their experiences of the Grace of God but the grounds of their Faith the reason why they did believe the Christian Doctrine This is evident because he is speaking of Persecution v. 14. and because he directs them to give their Answer with meekness and fear Quest Here it may be enquired whether such Persons as have a good Conversation and a Competent Knowledge may come to the Lords Supper with a good Conscience in case they know themselves to be in a Natural Condition Answ They may and ought to come tho they know themselves to be in a Natural Condition this Ordinance is instituted for all the Adult Members of the Church who are not scandalous and therefore must be attended by them
as no Man may neglect Prayer or hearing the Word because he cannot do it in Faith so he may not neglect the Lords Supper The Lords Supper is Instituted to be a means of Regeneration it is not appointed for the Converting of Men to the Christian Religion for only such as are Converted may partake of it but it is not only for the strengthening of Saints but a means also to work saving Regeneration There be many according to the Ordinance of Christ to be admitted to the Lords Supper who are not Regenerate Matth. 25.1,2 The Kingdom of Heaven is like ten Virgins five of them were Wise and five Foolish and it can have no other immediate end respecting these but their Conversion the end of all Ordinances is salvation and therefore to these Men it must be Regeneration for without it they cannot be saved This Ordinance hath a proper tendency to draw sinners to Christ in this Ordinance there is a particular Invitation to sinners to come to Christ for Pardon here is an affecting Representation of the Virtue of Christs sufferings here is a Seal whereby the Truth of the Gospel is confirmed all which are very proper to draw sinners to Christ If the Lords Supper be only for the strengthening of Saints then they who are not Saints do profane the Ordinance when they do partake and it is not Lawful for them to partake and then they that do not know themselves to be Saints don't know that it is Lawful for them to partake and so far as any Man hath scruples about his Saintship he must proportionably have scruples about the Lawfulness of his Participation and so Sacrament Days which should be Days of Comfort will become Days of Torment All other Ordinances are appointed for Regeneration Prayer hearing the Word Baptism so likewise the censures are that the Soul may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus they are to further Mens Regeneration in case they be not Converted already and it would be strange if the Lords Supper alone should not be appointed for that end whereas it hath a proper tendency thereunto and many that come to that Ordinance by the appointment of Christ stand in as much need of it as those that partake of other Ordinances A sixth part of the Worship is Ecclesiastical censures these were appointed in the time of the Old Testament and are to continue in use unto the end of the World it doth evidently appear both from the Writings of the Jews and likewise from the Scripture that the Jews did make use of Ecclesiastical censures John 4.34,35 John 3.22 and 12.42 And it is evident that these censures were according to Divine Institution from Matth. 16.17,18 Christ doth not here make a new Institution for the Gospel Church for that Church was not yet in Being but he urges them to the practise of an Old Institution if it be enquired where we find any such Institution in the Old Testament I Answer in that expression which we often find in the Old Testament that they should be cut off from Israel Gen. 17.14 Exod. 12.14 When one Brother is required to reprove another and in case of Incorrigibleness to complain to the Church that command doth not only bind the Brethren of the same Congregation but also the Brethren of any other Congregation for there lies the same Bond upon us according to opportunity not to suffer sin in others as well as in the Members of the same Congregation There is no need of a particular Institution who shall have the Power of Judgment to determine whether a Person be to be censured or not it is a part of Rule and where God appoints Rulers in his Church he appoints that they shall Judge these matters therefore when Christ appoints a Pastor to be a Ruler in the Church he expresses it by having Power of binding and loosing Matth. 16.19 A Person that is under Church censures is not thereby cut off from his Membership he stands in a Brotherly relation to other Members of the Church 2 Thess 3.15 Lying under offence and under censure for his offence doth not deprive him of his Visible Saintship therefore his Children are to be Baptized Such offences as are of a more Heinous Nature don't call for Church censures provided there be a suteable Spirit of Repentance if the end of censures be obtained there is no occasion for them Persons under the sentence of Excommunication are not only to be debarred from the Lords Supper but also to be exclued from the familiar Society of the People of God where there is no special Bond we are not to have that Society with them that we may have with Heathens 1 Cor. 5.9,12 To this Act of Worship appertains Absolution when the Person that hath offended doth manifest a Spirit of Repentance whether he has been censured or not he is to be acquited The seventh Act of Worship is the Blessing of the Congregation there is a Blessing of Men by way of supplication that may be performed by any Person and there is a Blessing by way of Confirmation this is pronounced in the Name of God this is either extraordinary by way of prediction so the Patriarchs did bless their Children and others endued with a Prophetical Spirit did bless the People as Moses or else ordinary pronounced in Gods Name by ordinary Ministers this may either be pronounced by way of assertion as when the Minister doth say Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and do it Or in way of supplication as when he saith The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you Yet this is more then a Prayer Viz. A Declaration in Gods Name what shall come to pass and therefore it must be understood in such a way as is according to Gods Covenant Deut. 20.34 God appointed the Priests of Old to Bless the People Numb 6.23 And this work seems to be a common work to the rest of the Levites who were teachers in Israel Deut. 10.8 There is no need of any new Institution in the Gospel impowring Ministers to bless in the Name of God it being a proper part of the work of a Minister Christ by appointing Ministers hath appointed Men to bless the People yet that seems to be Instituted Matth. 10.12,13 Deut. 21.5 Such Men as are Preachers of the Gospel yet not separated to that work by Ordination have no Power to bless the Congregation because this depends meerly upon Institution therefore is not to be done but according to Institution Ministers being appointed to bless Authoritatively in the Name of God it is utterly improper for them to speak in the first Person including themselves Numb 6.24 It is also improper for them to Bless the Church of God that are dispersed all over the World CHAP. VIII Of Churches consisting of Divers Congregations A Church consisting of Divers Congregations is a Society of Divers Congregational Churches joyning together according to Gods appointment for the